Some suggestions on the equipment and routine of the meter departments of supply undertakings

Abstract

The increasing use of alternating current for distribution purposes has considerably altered the character of the work done in many meter departments. A.C. meter testing now exceeds d.c. meter testing in regard to the quantity of work involved, and, furthermore, the imminent reductions in the cost of electricity will lead to still further demands for a.c. meters. In consequence of these changes the testing equipment of many undertakings will require extension or redesign, and Part 1 and 2 of the paper contain suggestions to help the meter engineer in this task.As the work of the meter engineer involves the accurate measurement of voltage, current, and power, it is essential that the errors of the testing instruments should be determined from time to time. It should be possible for all undertakings having more than 5000 consumers to carry out this operation on their own premises, and Part 3 suggests the minimum of standardizing equipment with which they should be provided.Although, owing to its almost ideal construction, it was found possible to dispense with the rotor clamp in the induction meter, this omission is not an unmixed blessing. If the light-weight induction meter is to be given the same treatment in trasnmport as the robust, clamped-type, d.c. meter, then the removal of the clamp is to be regretted. Part 4 deals with this matter and with other points connected with the installation of meters.After the meters have been installed on consumers' premises the meter engineer has by no means finished with them—even neglecting the question of meter reading. The meters will create various types of complaints, and naturally faults will occur from time to time. In Part 5 the equipment for dealing with this work is discussed, and the correct attitude towards meter maintenance is defined.